Knitting-machine.



t aan are ra'rnntr ernten EDISON E. RAITDALia,` KANKAKEE. ILLNOIS, ASSIGNOR TO PARAMOUNT KNITTING COIIFANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

KNITTING-MACHINE.

Application filed October 6, 1913.

To all yL11/wm t may concern Be it known that I, EnisoN E. RANDALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kankakee, county of Kankakee, State of' Illinois, have invented an Improvement in Knitting-Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying' drawing, is a specification, like characters on the 4drawing representing like lo parts.

This invention relates to means for taking up the knitted web in a knitting machine and is more particularly designed .tor use in an automatic knitting machine in which the l5 completed article such as a' stocking, is knitted from one end to the other entirely automatically and in which the successive stockings are united to form one continuous web. In all such work it is necessary to secure a sutlicient'tension on 'the fabric for casting oill the stitches from the needles in action at all times whatever may be the character of work being performed upon the machine or whatever change may be made from one to another kind o't' work during the knitting operation.

The i'nechanisn'i of this invention is particularly useful in securing the requisitel tension on the fabric for casting ofi the stitches from'the needles in action where a change is made from plain to ribbed work after the formation ot pockets such as -for the toe or heel in the plain work..

`While 'the invention is adapted for use as a part of various types of knitting machines it is herein illustrated as embodied in a machine of the type shown in reissue patent to Huse and Huse, No. 12,917, granted February 9, 1909, or of the type shown in 40 the pending application of Randall, No. 686,762, tiled March 2S, 1912. In the more elaborate forms of this machine that are designed for the knitting in one continuous web of a series ol stockings automatically 5&5 and completely two .sets of needles such as the dial and cylinder needles are employed and the machine is arranged to knit as required either ribbed, plain circular, or reciprocating work.

The present invention "elates to what is usually termed the auxiliary take up mechanism because it is particularly adapted for use in connection with another or main take up mechanism forthe web.

Specification of Letters Patent.

The object et the invention is to provide Patented Dec. 2S, i915.

serial no. 793,554. l

such a take up mechanism that will unerrmgly catch or seize the web at the desired point, shall move downwardly placing sutlicient tension upon the web but without tearing, stretching, or injuring the web, whichV vention. `As the structural features of the present invention are concerned entirely with the take up mechanism it is not necessary herein to illustrate or describe the part of the knitting machine particularly concerned in the 'formation of the web itself.

The drawings represent a specific embodiment of this invention with the machine shown in a somewhat diagrammatic and simplified manner. In order that the invention may be clearly andsimply disclosed it is to be understood however that the construction even otl the preferred form, the arrangement of the various elements, their operation and location. are dependent upon the particular type of knitting machine and their structural requirements.

ln the drawings: Figure l is a front elevation of so much ot a knitting machine as is necessary to an understanding of the invention; Fig. 2 is a lett hand side elevation partially in cross section taken on the line a-a et Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a detail in tansverse cross section to show the latch element; Fig. 4 is a left hand side elevation partially in cross section otl the portion of the machine and web at the seizing or catching position of the take up; Fig. is a front elevation ot' a portion et the mechanism shown in Fig. 4.

The machine as shown comprises a suitable frame work having the legs l, the top 2, and the central tie plate 3, 'from which frame work are supported the'various elements in which the form disclosed by this invention are embodied.

The usual needley cylinder carrying the typ usual cylinder needles is indicated at l, the dial plate carrying the usual dial needles at. 5; the respective sets of needles, their operating instrumentalities and the various instrumentalities required in the formation of the knitted web are not herein illustrated as they may be of any familiar and desired e. The main shaft of the machine is shown at (3, and is provided with fast and loose pulleys 7, and 8, respectively. An auxiliary shaft t), is mounted transversely near the top of the frame work in suitable bearings and driven from the main shaft by suitable driving connections sueh as the gears 10 and 11. The main shaft (i through the beveled gear 12 and its connections not necessary to illustrate, may operate the needles, while the auxiliary shaft 9 is shown as carrying at its left hand end a pulley 13, transmitting power through a belt 1l to a pulley 15 on a shaft 16, which shaft is provided with a worm 17, engaging a worm wheel 18, for operating the grooved roughened rollers 1S) of an ordinary form of main take up mechanism for the knitted web. This main take up mechanism need not be described in detail because when employed its function is similar to that of the main take up described in the before mentioned re-issue patent and pending application. A

The knitted web is indicated in Fig. t at 20 and extends from the interior of the cylinder et vertically downward through the main take up 1f) which when used draws the knitted web yieldingly through the machine but not so as to place more tension than necessary upon the web, the belt 1-l slipping on the pulleys 13 and 15 when there is an undue amount of resistance.

A suitable pattern mechanism is diagl'ammatically illustrated in the barrel 21, provided with cam surfaces and pins and carried by. the pattern shaft 22, journaled in the standard 23, projecting from tie plate 3 and which may be operated from the main shaft in a manner more fully disclosed in the before mentioned pending application of Randall. This pattern mechanism may be connected to the main take up to control the time and extent of action thereof upon the knitted web in a suitable manner, as for example as shown in the before-mentioned patent. In the construction illustrated lever 100 fulcrumed at 101 on the frame is connected by a link 10Q on the frame of the main take up and is controlled by cam surfaces on the pattern mechanism 21 to raise the main take up off the. web and bring the brake shoe 108 and the pulley 15 into contact but these features are not involved in the present invention and further detailed description is unnecessary.

The auxiliary take-up in which the prescnt invention is embodied comprises a hook or grab shown as a long rod 24 provided Aat its upper end with downwardly inclined projecting teeth 25. The rod 24 is mounted to slide. vertically in a fixed path with respect to the needle cylinder and for that purpose is shown as guided in and sliding through the bracket 2li secured to the needle cylinder and in and through the tie plate-3.

In order to insure the knitted web being seized by the hooks '25 of the grab or auxiliary take up a web defiector is provided to press the web against the grab. This device is located directly beneath the knitting point so that the knitted web may be seized as soon after its formation as practicable. This deiector is shown as-a U shaped member 27 secured at the bottom of the dial plate 5 and arranged so that the'hooks of the grab will pass between its depending arms 28. These arms are bowed or bent outwardly toward the grab as clearly shown in Fig. l. The web .is thus held out or deiected towardthe grab as the hooksl 25 press in and catch the web. Y

The downward movement of the grab is effected yieldingly so that the web will not be torn or injured and for this purpose a coiled spring 2S) surrounds the lower end of the rod :il abutting against the tie plate 3 at the top and the pin 30 inthe rod at the bottom. A yielding stopor buffer is further provided to break the shock of the sudden seizure of the web by the grab and partially relieve the web of the weight of the grab as it goes into action. In the form illustrated this stop or buffer comprises an arm 31 pivoted at 32 to the framework and projectingr in the path of a stud 33 on' the rod l. A\ coiled spring 34 holdsthe buffer yieldingly upward against a stop 35 and in a substantially horizontal position. lVhen the grab seizes the web and starts to descend the projection 33 strikes the buffer 31 and the buffer gives yieldingly downward against the tension of the spring 3l until the projection 33 slides off from its other end. The buffer is rounded olf as shown at 3G and there is sufficient lateral yield or lost motion in the rod 24. that when the grab ascends the projection 33 will slide over the end of the buffer to a position above the same.

The grab is elevated step by step to bring it into its web seizing position and is then Y adjacent edge of the rod 24. This pawl carrier is supported and given a vertical reciprocating movement by an eccentric strap al() pivoted at its lower end 41 to the pawl carrier and surrounding at its upper end an eccentric -12 on the main shaft 1. The pawl is provided with an upwardly extending tail 43 engaged by a spring 44 secured. to the back ot the pawl carrier 3T and the pawl is thus held up against the rod 24.

The bracket 26 has pivoted thereon for horizontal movement ,at 45 a latch 41') which engages the teeth ot the rod 2G and acts as a detent to hold the rod from downward movement as it-is elevated by the pawl 88. The rearwardly projecting arm 4T of the latch engagesthc tail 43 of the pawl while the forwardly projecting arm 4S of the latch is normally held by a spring 49 against a vertical edge of the bracket 2li. the arrangement being such that when the latch is in this position and as illustrated in Figs. 1 and* 5) the pawl 3S will be in engagement with the teeth of the rod 24. An arm 50 is mounted on the face of the bracket E26 and engages the arm 48 of the latch. i stop 51 limits the movement in one direction ot the arm 50. This arm 50 is given movement. to operate the latch and for thaty purpose is shown as part of a bell crank lever tulcrumed at 52 andhaving .its end pivotally connected to a vertically arranged link 53 in turn connected to a horizontally arranged link 54 which in tiiin is pivoted at 55 to a projection 56 fromsome rigid portion ot' the machine such as the needle cylinder. The link 54 carries a projection 57 in the path ot' a suitable cam 58 carried by the barrel 21 of the pattern mechanism.

The operation of the mechanism will now be apparent. 'I he grab normally occupies its elevated position with the hooks 25 directly below the knitting point and with the knitted web sliding over the hooks and held deflected by the detlector 27,F The latch occupies the position shown in Fig. 3 ot' the drawing in engagement with the tooth of the rod 2-1. "When it is desired that the grab shall come into action the pattern mechanism is so arranged as to bring a high part of the cam 58 beneath the projection 57 thus through the connections described throwing` the artn 50 to the right swinging the latch 46 on its pivot, thus withdrawing from cngagement with the tooth on rod 24 and pressing to the lett the pawl 58 and throwing it from engagement with the teeth 39 on the rod 24. The grab at once moves downward under the influence ot the spring 29, the teeth Q5 seizing the web, and the shock of the downward motion is absorbed by the butter -31 in the manner described.I flfhe knitting now continues with the grab hanging on the web and moving down yieldingly under the influence of the spring 29 until the. desired action of the grab is completed which -may be determined by a stop thereon, such as the projection 33, engaging a fixed portion of the frame such as the tie plate 3.

lVhen the grab is to be elevated the projection 57 rides oft on to a low pai-tof the cam 58 and the spring 49 then acts to return the latch to the position shown in Fig. 3. thus allowingl the pawl to come into engagement with the teeth 39 on the bar 24. The pawl carrier 37 is continuously reciprocating by reason of its connection with the eccentric 42 so that the gab is gradually fed upward into its elevated position which is reached when the pawl reaches the lowermost tooth on the rod 24. Thereafter the grab has a very slight, movement due to the engagement of the pawl with the lower-most tooth which in no way ai'ects the knitting.

ln the type of machine illustrated when the machine has completed the knittingl ot the heel pouch and is just beginning ribbed knitting the dial needles having come into action it is necessary to place more tension upon the web to secure the proper casting otf of the stitches from the needles in action during ribbed knitting. 1t the main take4 np were the only instrrunentality applying tension to the web at Vthis time the tension would be unequal, thro'ughout the courses oic the knitting at the knitting point because ot the, existence of the heel pouch and imperfeet knittingwould result. It is at this time that the grab comes into action and moves' downward yieldingly and independently of" the main take up. thus producing sufficient tension on that side of the web which iti grips to equalize the tension throughout the web. The grab remains inl action until the ribbed knitting has progressed to such an extent that the tension Aexerted by the main take up will be sufficiently equal throughout the circular courses of the knittinV at the knitting point when the downwar movement ot the grab will be stopped, thereupon the mechanism acts to restore the grab to its original position. f

` Having fully described my irivention what claim as new and desire to secure by Let- -ters Patent is 1. 'In a circular knitting machine the combination ot a take up device mounted to slide at one side ot the web and to catch in one side of the web upon its down vard movement, a pivotally mounted arm, means 'for holding the arm yieldingly upward and means on the take up device tor engagingr the arm during the first portion ot' the downward movement of the take up device whereby the weight ot the take up device is partially and yieldingly sustained by said arm during 'the first portion of the downward movement to prevent injury to the web.

2.- In a circular knitting machine the. combinatlon of ya. take-up device mounted to slide at one side ofthe web and to catch in one 'side of the web upon its downward movement, a buffer supported on the frame, means for holding the buffer yieldingly upward, and means on the take-up device for engaging the buier during the first portion of the downwaid movement of the take-up device wherebyT the weight of the take-up device is partially and yieldingly sustained by said buffer during the first portion of the downward movement to prevent injury to the web.

3. In a circular knitting machine the coinbination oi a take up device mounted to slide at one side of the web and to catch in one side oi'l the web upon its downward movement and means to press the web towai'd the said device at its web catching position. f

4. In a circular knitting machine the combination of a take up device mounted to slide at one side of the web and to catch in one side of the web upon its downward movement, and a web defiector located inside the web to defiect the web toward the said device in its web catching position.

5. I-n a circular knitting machine the coinbination of a grab provided with a toothed head at its upper end and mounted to slide at one side of the web and to catch in the web upon its downward movement, a U shaped defiector mounted inside the web opposite the grab at its web catching position and 4with the arms of the deliector at each.

side of the toothed head whereby the web is deflected toward the grab to insure its engagement' therewith.

6. In a circular knitting machine the'combination of a grab comprising a toothed head and a vertical rod mounted to slide at one side of the web to permit the teeth of the head to catch'in the web'upon the downward movement of the grab, yielding means for causing said downward movement, teeth on the said rod, a pawl carrier mounted to slide 1 on said iod and means for giving such pawl name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDISON' E. RANDALL.

Witnesses z HENRY O. WANGERIN, CHARLES W. GELiNo.

In testimony whereof, `I have signed myv 

